Car security advice and tips

Car security

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), cases of vehicle-related crimes in England and Wales have significantly declined over the past few decades. While this is comforting news for car owners and a broad recognition of the improved security measures included as standard in new vehicles, we should remember that car thieves have not stopped operating.

It is therefore important not to become casual about vehicle security and run the risk of becoming a statistic ourselves. With that in mind, the following seven points are our top recommendations for improving car security.

1. Lock your car

This advice may seem obvious but ONS crime figures show that car owners consistently forget to apply this most basic security feature. Almost half of all vehicle-related thefts are because thieves had gained access through an unlocked door.

Get in the habit of always locking up, even if you will only be away from the car for a few seconds. Don’t solely rely on a quick press of the key fob either: check for audible or visual signals that the car has actually locked before you walk away. And if your Lexus has door mirrors that can automatically fold in when the car is locked, be sure to activate this feature – potential thieves recognise it is a clear visual sign of a locked car.

2. Keep valuables out of sight

Opportunist thieves are often looking for easy-to-grab valuables that have been left on display. Police report that items such as jewellery, bags, purses and wallets, cash, credit cards, clothes and documents are the most commonly stolen in vehicle-related crimes.

Reduce this risk by stashing valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or boot. Better still, take those items away with you. And if you’re going to leave the car for a longer period of time, consider clearing the boot entirely and removing the parcel shelf or load cover to show thieves that there is nothing to steal.

Car security

3. Be mindful of signals

Most modern Lexus models are equipped with a keyless entry and start system – a convenience which sends a constant signal from the key fob in order to unlock the vehicle’s doors and de-activate the immobiliser as you approach. Although it is possible for tech-savvy thieves with special equipment to hijack this signal, they must be in close proximity to the key or vehicle.

So if you doubt the intentions of anybody in the immediate vicinity of your vehicle, wait for them to leave before approaching the car. Better still, whenever you are not driving, block the signal from the key by keeping it in a metal box or Faraday pouch. This is equally important at home as thieves can use a ‘daisy chain’ of receivers to relay the signal from the key (which is probably kept near the front door) to open the car.

4. Secure your port

Every new car sold in the UK since 2003 has been equipped with an on-board diagnostic port. Abbreviated to OBD, this port is a computer connection that allows the car to communicate messages about its mechanical health to an authorised technician. Unfortunately, thieves have discovered that with special equipment they can use this OBD port to programme blank keys to work with the car.

For this reason, some owners choose to secure their OBD port with an aftermarket lock. Typically, this can either be a lockable metal box that covers the port itself, or an electronic lock that works alongside the original immobiliser to disable the port when the ignition is off.

5. Protect your cat

Your catalytic converter, that is. The ‘cat’ forms part of your car’s emissions control system and cleans exhaust gases before they are expelled through the tailpipe. Unfortunately, the precious metals inside the cat that help to neutralise these passing gases are exactly that – precious. Which means that the catalytic converter itself has become a target for thieves.

Lexus UK has taken action to deter thieves by issuing thousands of SmartWater invisible marking kits to local initiatives, as well as providing Lexus customers with a free SmartWater forensic marking service at their local centre. Lexus has also developed a mechanical locking device to deter would-be thieves. These measures are explained in more detail in our dedicated article on catalytic converter theft.

6. Park with care

Thieves do not like performing in front of an audience, so the place where you park has a bearing on the vehicle’s vulnerability. ONS statistics show that the likelihood of experiencing a car-related crime is much lower in busy, town centre parking areas. This is especially true when car parks are well-lit and have manned or CCTV security coverage.

Similarly, the time at which you park your car has a bearing on its security. Most instances of car-related crimes occur in the early hours of the morning, so avoid leaving in your car in a dark, unfamiliar area overnight.

Car security

7. Extra security

Modern vehicles invariably come with a high level of built-in security – the specific features of which are usually designed to react in the event of an incident. But there are simple things you can do to actively dissuade a thief from pursuing an attack on your car. These precautions include:

  • Using a brightly coloured mechanical device locked across the steering wheel, gear lever or clutch pedal will provide an excellent visual deterrent to a would-be thief. A well-known steering wheel ‘crook lock’ “Stop Lock Pro Elite” is what Lexus would advise fitting to models, particularly RX, NX and UX (other brands of steering wheel locks are available to purchase should you wish).
  • We may be living in a digital age but nothing will persuade an opportunist to leave your car alone more effectively than a good old-fashioned piece of ironmongery. Or for that matter, a snarling dog.

More information on preventing car crime can be found by visiting the Police UK website – www.police.uk – and by searching ‘car crime’.

218 comments

  1. I have purchased a 2024 reg NX350h . I understood that the new series is not vulnerable to canbus relay theft. Can you confirm? I’m concerned to see reports in my local area of Lexus thefts again but assume these are older models. Am wondering about installing the metal protective plate anyway as a precaution (but am hoping this vulnerability has been fixed by Lexus in latest model).

    1. Good afternoon Ali,

      Thanks for getting in touch.

      We take the issue of Lexus vehicle theft very seriously. We are continuously developing technical solutions to make our vehicles more secure, to help reduce the risk of theft.

      An enhanced security hardware system was introduced in October 2021 on the latest models targeted by criminals. Since which, we have seen a significant drop in thefts of those models.

      Get in touch with your local Lexus Centre about the Vehicle Protection Plates. We hope to have further information on additional security measures available soon.

      Thank you.

  2. Hi, I have recently purchased a Lexus LBX…what extra security arrangements do you recommend? I note that you recommend the Stop Lock Pro Elite steering wheel lock for other models…would this be suitable for the LBX? Thank you.

    1. Hi Elaine, thanks for getting in touch.

      We hope you are enjoying your new LBX. This vehicle is not deemed as high risk, although a visual deterrent is always worthwhile. This type of lock should be fine, but you can also get wheel, gear stick and pedal locks too.

      Thanks,

      Lexus UK

  3. Thieves have accessed the computer system via the headlight wiring on my previous and now on my current ES . After the first theft, I recovered the car by virtue of the ‘tracing’ device fitted as standard, but not before a significant amount of damage was done to the internal plastic shrouds and the wiring that is found underneath. This was all covered by my insurance and was dealt with by my local Dealership, but that produced a massive hike in my subsequent premiums.
    Then again this year, having taken over a new ES 300H, thieves again attempted to access the CANBUS behind the nearside front headlight unit, in spite of the security cameras I had installed at my property and the use of a disclock on the steering wheel.
    This time the thieves left empty handed but not before prising the front wing away and damaging the internal plastic in the wheelarch.
    Once again my local Lexus dealership were sympathetic but offered no positive suggestion as to how the electronic unit could be protected from incursions of this type. Sadly, I feel that after 8 years of otherwise trouble-free motoring, I don’ t think I can continue to lease Lexus hybrids.

    1. Hi Russ, thanks for your feedback.

      We are so sorry to hear that your ES has been a target of CANbus theft. Whilst we do not publish the full details publicly, most of our latest models are not deemed as at risk of CANbus theft.
      This is something that your local Lexus Centre would be best placed to discuss further.

      Thanks,

      Lexus UK

  4. Hi Lexus
    Can I confirm that my March 2022 registered Lexus NX450h+ , index LX22***, is NOT affected by the CANbus threat. Various Lexus on-line forum give varying answers.
    If so, is this because the CANBus system is encoded?
    Is my car suitable for fixture of a Ghost 11 immobiliser?
    Thanks you in anticipation.
    Hugh

    1. Hi Hugh, thanks for your comment.

      That is correct, your NX is not deemed as at risk of CANbus theft. We would recommend further precautionary measures anyway, such as a secondary immobiliser or tracker. Your local Lexus Centre can advise further and perhaps recommend suppliers in your area.

      Thanks,

      Lexus UK

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